Albert french



(No Model.)

A. FRENCH.

THILL GOUPLING.

Patented Mar. 9, 1886.

.dttorney UNITED STATES PATENT Orrics.

ALBERT FRENCH, OF EAST ROOKPORT, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ALFREDFRENCH, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 337,761, dated March 9,1886.

Serial No. 176,877. (No n1o11- 1.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ALBERT FRENCH, acitizen of the United States,residing at East Rockport, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of 5Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inThill-Gouplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,

' clear, and exact description of the invention,

which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to thill-couplings, the object being to provide adevice of this character whereby all lateral movement of the thill-ironin the draw-iron and the consequent rattling are prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide a thill-couplingpossessing the abovementioned advantage which may be manu- 2 factored ata comparatively slight cost, one that will be strong and durable and notlikely to get out of order.

My invention consists in the details of construction and combinations ofparts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a thill-couplingembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical section of thesame. Fig. 3 is a transverse verti- 0 cal section, and Fig. 4 is adetail view of the bushing removed.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by the sameletters of reference.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a portion of the axle, securedto which is a clip, B, said clip having threaded ends. Fitting upon andconnecting the ends of the clip is a bar or plate, O,and holding saidplate in place are nuts a, which engage the threaded ends of the clip.

D represents the draw-iron, which projects outwardly from the clip, andis preferably formed integral therewith. This draw-iron consists of twooutwardly-extending ears,

each of which is provided with an opening, I).

E represents the thill-iron,which is adapted to be bolted or otherwisefirmly secured to the thill. This thi1liron E is formed with a head, (2,which has a transverse opening or passage.

\Vithin the opening or passage of the head d is formed a shoulder, j,which is preferably circumferential, and is located midway the ends ofthe head. This shoulder f may be formed by reaming out the head fromopposite sides.

G represents a sectional bushing. which is preferably of elasticmaterial, such as rubber or leather. The two parts or sections of thebushing G are passed through the openings in the ears of the draw-iron,and bear with their inner ends against the shoulderf, their outer endsresting in the openings of the ears of the draw-iron.

H represents aheaded bolt, which passes through the bushing or packing,and which is held in place to secure the parts together by a nut, g. Theouter ends of the sections of the elastic bushing bear against the headof the bolt and the nut, and they serve as cushions for the same toprevent their wear and rattling. It will be observed that as the ends ofthe sectional bushing bear against the sides of the shoulder the lateralmovement of the thill-iron is prevented, and as the bushing fits tightlyin the openings forward and backward movement of the thill-iron is alsoprevented.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to provide the opening ofathillwith asectional 8o bushing having its outer ends located in the openingof the draw-iron and forming a bearing for the pivotal bolt its entirelength; but in constructions of this class, so far as I am acquainted,conical openings have been pro- 3 vided in the draw and thill irons, anda conical sectional bushing employed in combination with a bolt madeconical for half its length. This construction of coupling has neverbeen brought into general use,owing to its expensive construction, aspecial form of bolt being necessary,which,if lost,could only bereplaced by the manufacturer. The bushings are not alike, one of themhaving a smooth interior bore, and the other a conical bore to fit the 5conical portion of the bolt.

My construction differs from the construe tion before mentioned in thatI make the openings of both the thill and draw irons plain,and provide aplain tubular bushing to fit in the thill-iron and have its ends'rest inthe open- 'ings of the draw-iron and in combination with of said bushingbearing against opposite'sides of the shoulder f, and their outer endsbearing in the openings of the draw-iron, and the bolt A, correspondingto and passing through the opening in the bushing and a nut, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT FRENCH. \Vitnesses:

A. J. MARVIN, M. G. NoR'roN.

